Read Or Alive

After countless rejection notices, an unhinged, obsessive young writer plots a devious scheme to attain fame and success.

  • Kearsten Johansson
    Director
  • Trent Newton
    Director
    Gift Giver, Contrition
  • Kearsten Johansson
    Writer
  • Kearsten Johansson
    Producer
  • Kearsten Johansson
    Key Cast
    "June"
  • Tyler Tanner
    Key Cast
    "Dee-Vid"
  • Lindsay Sutherland Boal
    Key Cast
    "Macey"
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Thriller, Mystery, Dark Comedy, LGBTQ+
  • Runtime:
    21 minutes 30 seconds
  • Production Budget:
    4,000 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    Canada
  • Country of Filming:
    Canada
  • Language:
    English
  • Shooting Format:
    Arri Alexa Mini
  • Aspect Ratio:
    2.35:1
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • Flickers' Rhode Island International Film Festival

    United States
    Semi-Finalist
  • Toronto Independent Film Festival of Cift
    Toronot
    Canada
    Best Lead Actress Winner
  • Indie Film NIght
    Cincinnati
    United States
    Finalist
  • Canada Shorts- Canadian & International Short Film Fest.
    Burnaby, British Columbia
    Canada
    Canadian Shorts
  • Oniros Film Awards®
    New York
    United States
    Best Dark Comedy Winner, Best Lead Actress Winner, Best Female Filmmaker Winner
  • Accolade Global Film Competition
    La Jolla, CA
    United States
    Best Female Filmmaker Winner
  • Standalone Film Festival & Awards Worldwide
    Rancho Cucamonga, CA
    United States
    Best LGBTQ+ Film Nominee
  • Hollywood North Film Awards
    Toronto
    Canada
    Best Supporting Actor Nominee
  • Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions @PinewoodStudios
    Toronto
    Canada
    Short Live Action Narrative
  • Montreal Independent Film Festival
    Montreal
    Canada
    Canadian Indies
Director Biography - Kearsten Johansson, Trent Newton

Kearsten Johansson
Read or Alive is Kearsten's directorial debut since post-secondary. She graduated from the Toronto Film School with the Best Actor Award, Presidents Award, and was elected Acting Class Valedictorian. She is currently in post-production for her upcoming film Straw Man.

(Select) Awards:
-Best Supporting Actress, Los Angeles Actors Awards Festival
-Best Supporting Actress, SFAAF Film Festival (Chile)
-The Real Dreams Award (People's Choice Award)
-Artist2Artist Winner, Stephanie Gorin Digital Actor Showcase
-2x Best Lead Actress (Oniros Film Awards® & Accolade Global Film Competition)
-Best Female Filmmaker
-Best Dark Comedy (writer, producer, co-director, lead actress)

Trent Newton
An award winning director and editor, Trent teams up to co-direct this darkly comedic thriller with Kearsten, after previously collaborating with her on the romantic drama Gift Giver. An honours graduate from the Bachelor of Film and Media Production Program at Humber College, Trent has been pursuing his passion for filmmaking since he was young.
(Select) Awards:
- Best Drama, Top Shorts (Gift Giver)
- Best LGBTQ Short, Lost Angeles Film Awards (Gift Giver)
- Best Short Thriller, Los Angeles Film Awards (Contrition)
- Best Thriller, Independent Shorts Awards (Contrition)

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